1. Home
2. 
3. Beauty
4. 
6. 
7. What Wintercare looks like for Your Skin Type

Dr. Pallavi Sule, Mumbai-based dermatologist and aesthetic physician, shares her expertise with GlobalSpa on how to best pamper your skin through the harsh winters. As the season changes and the chill sets in, we need to gear up for protecting the skin against the dry weather. But first, it's very important to know ‘What’s your skin type’? With the seasonal changes, the skin too tries to adapt to the advent of winters. It tends to become drier and more inflamed. Different skin types have reacted differently to changing weathers. Acne-prone skin might worsen. The reason is skin makes efforts to produce more and more oil to help hydrate the dry skin but the pores are blocked! Hence skin is more prone to increased acne. WINTER CARE FOR DIFFERENT SKIN TYPES   Normal To Dry Skin:

• Cleanse with a gentle skin cleanser
• The toner which is alcohol-free
• Apply enough moistening cream
• Sunblock with SPF 30
• Remove makeup with micellar water and apply moisturizer followed by a retinol-based cream

  Combination To Oily:

• Oily skin cleanser (salicylic based) to be used once a day to unclog the pores
• Toner to soothe the inflamed skin and tighten pores will reduce oil
• Water-based (paraffin moisturizer) to hydrate the skin
• Sunblock with SPF 30
• One can apply Vitamin C cream in the day time before the sunscreen

Winter season is the time for a dip in the temperature and humidity which leads to dryness and hence maintaining hydration is very important.   GENERAL SKINCARE ROUTINE ONE MUST MAINTAIN IN THE WINTER SEASON   Hydrate well: As the temperature is now cooler, one tends to drink less amount of water. But that is not a good idea. One must be watchful about the water intake so as to keep the body hydrated, preventing the dehydration of the skin. Keep the water intake optimal all round the year. Bundle up: As the air gets brisker, protecting the hand, feet and the head from cold helps to keep them warm. Thus blood circulation to the extremities helps in keeping the skin barrier intact. Sunblock: Most of the times we feel that no visible sunlight means no sun damage!! But that’s not the case. The UVA and UVB rays are very much present and cause sunburns, increased pigmentation and so on. Hence it is very important to apply a good sunscreen generously every 2-3 hourly. Bath with lukewarm water: Keep the water temperature low. We all like to take hot showers in the cold weather. Using very hot water on the skin leads to dryness and dehydration and further to inflammation and redness. To avoid this keep the water lukewarm and use a mild moisturizing soap. Moisturize: It is very important to moisturize the skin at least 2-3 times a day. This keeps the epithelium intact and we can avoid the dryness and inflammation. Use an intense moisturizer free of sulphates and parabens. Food: Relish green leafy vegetables and fruits. All coloured fruits and vegetables give antioxidants which help fight the free radical damage in the body! Also, it is very important to pep up the levels of the omega fatty acids 3,6 and essential fatty acids in the body. So consume flak seeds, muskmelon seeds etc. This helps the skin become soft and supple.   Disclaimer: This article is authored by Dr. Pallavi Sule - Dermatologist and Aesthetic Physician. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not represent those of GlobalSpa.